Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2016; 4(5): 294-296 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 An outbreak of gall inducing thrips Gynaikothrips JEZS 2016; 4(5): 294-296 uzeli Zimmermann (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) © 2016 JEZS Received: 11-07-2016 on Ficus benjamina Linn. in central India Accepted: 12-08-2016 VS Nagrare VS Nagrare and Bhausaheb Naikwadi Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), P. B. No. 2, Shankar Nagar P. O., Abstract Nagpur- 440010, India An outbreak of gall inducing thrips Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmermann (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) was observed on weeping fig, Ficus benjamina Linn. during March- April 2014. Average 16 adult thrips Bhausaheb Naikwadi per gall was recorded. Leaf galls are induced by larvae and adults, which feed only on young leaves, Central Institute for Cotton causing leaves to fold and/or curl. Feeding by thrips permanently damages the newly developing leaves, Research (CICR), P. B. No. 2, causing cell hypertrophy and tissue hyperplasia resulting in completely mar the beauty of plants. Average Shankar Nagar P. O., 45% leaves/plant was found damaged with Gynaikothrips uzeli. Some associated insects- thrips Nagpur- 440010, India Gigantothrips sp, anthocorid bug Mantandoniola sp., parasitoids belonging to Eulophidae family have also been recorded from G. uzeli population infesting F. benjamina. G. uzeli might have came along with planting material and now become major threat to the plants in central India. A close watch is needed to curb the rising invasion of G. uzeli on F. benjamina. This report assumes great importance as no reports have been dealt with the new geographic area of infestation by G. uzeli. Keywords: Gall inducing thrips, Gynaikothrips uzeli, Ficus benjamina, outbreak, central India 1. Introduction Ficus benjamina Linn. (Rosales: Moraceae) is an evergreen hardy flowering tree native to South and Southeast Asia, Australia and pacific, commonly known as Weeping fig. The tree grows up to 70 feet height and 60 to 70 feet spread. The plant species is distributed in India, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Taiwan, Myanmar; Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, [3] Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Australia, Solomon Islands . Ficus benjamina is cultivated in many parts of the world including American Samoa, Mariana Islands, Ecuador, Micronesia Pohnpei Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia Society Islands, Guam, Kiribati Tungaru Islands, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Tonga, United States, Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, [5] Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam . Weeping fig bears shiny, dark green, ovate leaves and tan bark. It is one of the most popular ornamental trees in gardens, parks and along streets, houseplants in the world due to its tolerance to severe pruning. It can also be suitably used as a clipped hedge or screen or can be trained into topiary. Young trees are often grown in containers, appearing on patios, at entranceways, or indoors. Due to its elegant growth and tolerance to poor growing conditions, in tropical regions it is cultivated as an ornamental plant in the parks and other urban locations while in temperate area as a houseplant. In India it is used as decorative plant as a hedge or clipped screen in gardens and house premises besides potted plant. The leaves, bark and fruits of Ficus benjamina contain various bioactive constituents like cinnamic acid, lactose, naringenin, quercetin, caffeic acid and stigmasterol. The plant is used as invertebrate food for lac insects in Malacca, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. The latex serves for the production of rubber. F. benjamina used widely for the treatment of certain skin disorders, hypotensive stomachic and anti-dysentery in several traditionally important medicines. Various parts of Ficus benjamina possess activities like antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant, antiviral, antimycobacterial, analgesic, Correspondence VS Nagrare antidiarrhoeal, etc. and also act as a anti- helminthic agent and insect repellent. Central Institute for Cotton At several locations of Nagpur in central India, leaves of these trees were found folded along Research (CICR), P. B. No. 2, the central vein and thrips were found associated with these symptoms. The purpose of this Shankar Nagar P. O., work was to record for the first time species of thrips associated with galled leaves on F. Nagpur- 440010, India benjamina in central India. ~ 294 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies The present study was carried out at Central Institute for Adult thrips of G. uzeli are dark tan in colour measuring Cotton Research, Nagpur, India. The galled leaves were about 2.22 to 3mm in length. Borbon and Agostini [1] observed for the presence of invertebrates associated with described G. uzeli, reported antennal segment III-VIII, tarsus, gall formation and other predatory fauna present in the galls fore tibias and apical part of the middle and hind tibias during March- April 2014. Normal and galled leaves were yellow, forewings pale. counted from four directions to assess the severity of Some associated thrips measuring about 10.08mm in length infestation. Randomly selected 20 galls were opened by hand have been identified as Gigantothrips sp. which are closely and number of adult thrips were counted from few plant. related to Gynaikothrips. Adult members of these genera are Specimens of thrips and other associated insects were indistinguishable except for the longer intermediate antennal collected in 70% alcohol and sent to Division of segments and body. An anthocorid predatory bug Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Mantandoniola sp. was found associated with G. uzeli. Delhi; National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Thrips parasitoids belonging to Eulophidae family have also Bangalore and Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata for their been recorded from the thrips population infesting F. identification. Measurement of insect specimen was taken benjamina. with the help of Analytical Stereo Binocular Microscope G. uzeli is native to southern Asia and has been recorded (Leica). from India, Algiers, Java, Madeira, Canary Islands, Cuba, An outbreak of gall inducing thrips Gynaikothrips uzeli Puerto Rico and Florida, Costa Rica, Brazil, Australia, Zimmermann (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) was observed Taiwan, Maldives, Singapore, USA, Mexico, Argentina. An on weeping fig during March- April 2014 in Nagpur of outbreak of G. uzeli has caused severe damage to F. central India (Latitude: N 21° 2' 15.4078", Longitude: E 79° benjamina in Florida and several other southern states. Its 3' 25.6645"). Thrips attained pest status by attacking the dispersal world over can be attributed to the horticultural young leaves which turn yellow and are folded up or rolled trade in F. benjamina. up from the edges into gall-like structures. Thrips number Some recent reports indicated adults and larvae of thrips was in the range of 7-28 with an average 16 adult thrips per species Androthrips ramachandrai Karny (Phlaeothripidae) gall. Leaf galls are induced by larvae and adults, which feed feeding on eggs, larvae and pupae of G. uzeli in F. only on young leaves, causing leaves to fold and/or curl. benjamina galls in the Americas, from USA to Southern Average 45% leaves/plant was found damaged with G. uzeli. Brazil [2]. Feeding by thrips permanently damages the newly G. uzeli have been reported in Indian states Tamil Nadu, developing leaves, causing cell hypertrophy and tissue Odisha, West Bengal [6] on the F. benjamina however till hyperplasia. Gall formation permanently disfigures leaves, date there are no records of any Gynaikothrips species resulting in completely mar the beauty of plants. G. uzeli inducing leaf galls on F. benjamina in central India. This disappeared during summer months May-June and rainy species might have came along with planting material and season July-August. G. uzeli are now widely distributed as F. now become major threat to the plant. This report assumes benjamina are cultivated in almost all regions of the world great importance as no reports have been dealt with the new [7]. F. benjamina is the only plant on which G. uzeli has been geographic area of infestation. A close watch is needed to reported to reproduce successfully [4]. curb the rising invasion of G. uzeli on F. benjamina. Normal plant F. benjamina F. benjamina plant infested by G. uzeli Leaf gall by G. uzeli Colony of G. uzeli inside gall ~ 295 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Adult G. uzeli Eggs of G uzeli Larvae of G. uzeli Gigantothrips sp. Eulophid wasp Ceraphronid wasp Montandoniola sp. associated with G. uzeli Nymph Montandoniola sp. Picturesque of Ficus benjamina infested by Gynaikothrips uzeli and associated insect fauna 2. Acknowledgements 3. GRIN. Germplasm Resources Information Network The Authors duly acknowledged the help and cooperation (Online Database). National Germplasm Resources received from Head Crop Protection Division and Director Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars- CICR, Nagpur. The authors also acknowledged the help grin.gov/ cgi-bin/npgs/html/ taxon.pl?16785 (Accessed received from Dr V. V. Ramamurthy, Professor Division of on 04 August 2014). Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New 4. Melo FS, Cavalleri A, Milton M. Predation of Delhi, Dr J. Poorani, National Bureau of Agriculturally Gynaikothrips uzeli (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) by Important Insects, Bangalore